Lighter Gear for Winter Springs

J

jimbob

Active Member
My plan this year is to use much lighter gear for winter springs. I plan on using 9 weight flyrods which I have acquired but I am still searching for the right reels to go with those rods. Any suggestions other than some very high priced Islander reels?

Also I plan to use dummy flashers most of the time and fish spoons. However, I know that hootchies and squirts also work well but I want to get away from using normal sized flashers when I fish hootchies becuase of the drag factor for a flyrod. With this in mind has anyone tried to fish hootchies using the miniature sized flashers which seem to be less than half the size of a normal flasher? Can you actually get a hootchie to work properly behind such a small flasher? I suspect it is possible if you shorten up on the leader length but I would appreciate hearing what others have to say about such an idea.
 
There are a couple of little devices that make Hootchies shake like crazy, here's one.

http://www.wigglefin.com/

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I assume you will be using a downrigger to get your line deep. If that's the case I'd rig a dummy flasher to your downrigger ball, and then the hoochie (maybe with that wiggler device) directly to your fly rod.

As for reels, I have an "arbor reel" that I picked up off eBay a few years back and they work well for salmon. They are a single action reel similar to a mooching reel but lighter and designed for Salmon. Mine is made by Okuma and I have caught some pinks and coho on a #8 rod. It's about as much fun as you can have fishing and still keep your pants on!!!

One thing for sure -- with the line down 100-150' -- if you are using a light fly line you are going to need one hell of a load of backing!!! I suppose you could use a regular mono line because you won't be casting with the fly rod, and that would make the setup likely perform better and cheaper too.
 
Careful when you get a 9 wt that it has the backbone to pop it off the clip. I have broken a few lighter rods in half trying to pop the clip. If you get a smaller fish you wont be able to assist it on popping it. I fished those small flashers with 24-32 inch leaders and needlefish patterns. Works great.
 
Wayne Laughren, originally from Sooke, not sure where he is now, invented 2 flashers that when the fish hit popped off the flashers and you play the fish only.
He used to use 8 wt. Sage flyrods.
He used to guide out of the Sooke basin.
Don
 
They are release dodgers and i swear by them always have one out there are a couple guys in Reny that cringe when i put it out.But good luck finding them anymore i'm down to my last two.
 
Shimano makes a 'lighter' mooching rod. I have 1 and love it. It is great for smaller fish but can handle anything in a pinch. Good for jigging too with a level wind. I don't have it in front of me but i believe the model # is Talora ml802. It is not as long as others but the Taloras are extremely tough and will last you forever.
 
I have encountered the problem of breaking a flyrod off the downrigger clip because it does not have enough backbone. My solution is to clip the line in quite lightly and then not tighten up the drag too much that it pulls off the clip when you drop the gear. This is not a perfect solution but the best compromise that I can come up with.

Has anyone tried attaching the flasher to the cannonball and then connecting a release clip to the base of the flasher and then clipping the mainline with a spoon or hootchie to the release clip? The theory is that you would get the benefit of the flasher (to some degree) for action but would break free of it when the fish hits? My biggest concern would be line twist but maybe that could be solved with lots of swivels between the flaser and the clip
 
A friend swears by these...could be good for winter fishing, if they work.

Farr Better Flasher
http://www.gibbsfishing.com/products/fbflasher.asp

Developed by Scott Burneski and Justin Farr, Professional Guides at World-class Resorts in Campbell River, BC, the FARR Better Flasher#65533; is a breakthrough in the technology of fishing with a flasher! Their ingenious, patented design truly is FARR Better!

The revolution is in the quick release system. When the big one strikes, the Farr Better Flasher#65533; releases and eventually floats to the top, leaving you to play only the FISH - NOT the flasher!

Setup is simple: Attach the main line to the top swivel of the flasher, and run your bait, hoochie or favorite Gibbs spoon (Try the Gibbs GYPSY#65533;!) behind the Farr Better Flasher#65533;. You'll get the same superior action you have come to rely on from the Highliner#65533;, while the patented easy release design ensures all efforts are directed at landing that catch!

Carrying on from our founder, Rufus Gibbs, we are listening to fishermen - they know what works. The Farr Better Flasher#65533; is available in all your favorite Highliner#65533; colors.
 
Still looking for advice on reasonably priced fly reels for downrigger fishing for winters. Any thoughts?
 
Hey Jimbob,

How are you going to secure the flyrod when it's clipped to the downrigger? With a mooching rod, it has the large 8" butt that will slide into a rod holder. Fly rods don't have a butt so the traditional Scotty rod holder won't work.

Just curious as I'd like to give this technique a shot as well...
 
I have found (in Campbell River) a shop which sells fly rods with a rod butt which will fit in a conventional Scotty rod holder. I also have a couple of more conventional flyrods which have 2 inch butt extensions which will fit in a Scotty flyrod holder. The main thing I have noticed is to avoid using the rod holder which attaches to the downrigger arm because these don't work so well for fly rods.
 
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